Official: Taliban frees 33 professors

An Afghan official said the Taliban have released 33 university professors and students abducted nearly two weeks ago in the country’s east.

Mohammad Ali Ahmadi, the deputy governor of Ghazni province, said the hostages were released overnight and early on Monday, following mediation by tribal elders in the region and the staff from the office of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Ghazni.

Mr. Ahmadi said the 33, most of whom are professors at the Kandahar University, were on their way to Kabul, earlier this month when their bus was stopped by the Taliban in the province’s Qarabagh district.

The Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, confirmed the release of the 33 in a statement to media.